Reversible latch and lock for slidable closure devices



Jan. 19, 1954 J. F. PRICE 2,666,319

REVERSIBLE LATCH AND LOCK FOR SLIDABLE CLOSURE DEVICES Filed May 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l I Hi] I I1 lii'u'il'n i Mllllllllli I IIZA, 23 I W m i i l G2 I 22 E /3 n w mmvrom 1/ JAMEsEPRICE,

Jan. 19, 1954 J. F. PRICE 2,666,319

REVERSIBLE LATCH AND LOCK FOR SLIDABLE CLOSURE DEVICES Filed May 20, 195C 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. /8

:JAMES F. PRICE,

BY Fica. 1'0. fi 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 19, 1954 UNITEQDFWSTKATES PATENT OFFICE REVERSIBLE LATCH AND LooK Eon SLIDABLE CLOSURE DEVICES James F. Price, Miami, Fla. Application May 20, 1950, Serial No. 163,261

a 6 Claims.

I This invention relates toa combinedlatch and lock for use in connection with'sliding closure devices and is a continuationin' part of my copending application for a similar device, filed March 27, 1950, hearing Serial No. 152,205 now Patent No. 2,638,370, dated'Mayl2, 1953. I

The invention contemplatesa Combined latch and lock that includes a vertically pivoted latch member. supported whollywithin a housing that is mounted in the leading edge of a closure door or the like for latchingengagementwith akeeper supported to the door frame, .the housing adapted to engage over the keeper whenthe door is fully closed with the keeper projecting into the housing to be engaged by the latch. v I I Animportant object of the invention resides in novel latch and locking means associated with the housing and themethod of mounting and assembling the parts, with latch handles for the manual 'and key control of the latch and with one latch ihandle provided with I a sliding bolt to I be I projected through a preformed opening in the housing to control the 'unauthorizediopera'tionof the latch from an outer side of the door. I I

I The, invention further Icontemplatesja 'novel latch and lock device that is key controlled from the outer side of the door and finger latched from the inner sideof the door, with the latch structure so arranged that theparts may be reversed as to the inner and outer side of the door;

,Other important objects and advantagesof the invention will ,be readily apparent during the course of. thefollowing description, reference beinghad to the accompanying. drawings, wherein has been illustrated thepr'eferred examples of, the invention and wherein likechara'c'ters of reference are employed to denotelike parts throughout the severalfigures. I

In thedrawings:

latch and lock constructed-inaccordance with'the invention and disclosing inner r latchin Figure 2 is'a'side elevation of the device'from the opposite or key'controlside of the mechanism, Figure 3 is a top plan'view of the assembled device as mounted .in theleading edgeofi'a sliding closuredoor,

;;Figure 4.,is a;horizontalysectional'view'of the device mounted relation to a; door, taken. on-

i #4 Fig r 1 11 4,: I' 1,.

elere i of: ter a h controlled echanism 'gure I1 is a perspectiveview ra combined.

ing-hots door, indicated at I0, in Figures 3 and 4.

Figure '61s a perspective view of the innerand outer latch handles and associated key controlled cylinder lock and spacing sleeves, in separated position, a v

'Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical section through the inner "latch handle and associated housing, taken on line .1-1 of Figure 4,

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 8--8 of Figure 1,

I Figure 9 is a perspective view of the outer latch handle illustrating a modified form of key controlled mechanism, I

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 8, illustratingthe modified key control mechanism,

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the modified key controlled mechanism prior to installation in the outer latch handle, I

Figure 12 is a fragmentary section of a spacing sleeve for the housing and,

Figure 13 is aperspective view of a bolt actuating arm.

. Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral Eindicates the complete assembled mechanism including] a housing that embodies sections 6 and], which are preferably stamped from any suitable heavy gaugedmetal, the section '6 constituting the inner'part of the housing and the section l'constituting the outer part of the housing. The sections are'generally square in outer side elevation. The section 6 is provided with a.

forward rightangle flange 8 that constitutes an abutment face. The upper and lower ends. of the flange 8 are extended atS and provided with screw openings, through the medium of which the house ing is rigidly su'pported within an opening of'the The flange is further provided with a rectangular recessed by the door trim, so that, when the door 1 is moved, to closed and latched position, the keeper will be completely "sealed andunauthorized opening H, of a size to permit the entry of a' keeper'l2, to be contacted by a latch dogrtobe later described. Thekeeper. l 2 is rigidlymounted atone side ,offthe, door; opening and is completely movement of the latch dog will be prevented.

Asclearly. shown, the housing member 6 is provided with a cylindrical depression l3, while the housing member! isprovided with a cylindrical depression M. The flange 8 is rigidly connected to the housing member" 1 through the medium of a 1119.15; formed "upon the forward edge of the member! for itsffullhei'ght. Spacing sleeves or rods l6, serve to prop'erlyspace the housing members apart at assembly. The rods l6 have bevelled hadsllf'seating within recesses l8, formed'in the housing member to lie flush therewith. The heads H are formed plain to prevent unauthorized removal from the outer side of the device. The inner ends of the rods l6 are axially drilled and tapped to receive fastening screws I9, the slotted heads of which are countersunk in the housing member 6, as clearly shown in Figure 12.

Each depression l3 and I4 is provided in its inner wall with a relatively large concentric opening and 2|, terminating in inwardly projecting and axially arranged bearing flanges 22 and 23 for the rotatable bearing support of lock and. latch mechanism to be described. The recesses or depressions and their flanges 22 and 23 are in axial alignment at assembly of the device.

Latch handles, generally indicated by the nu-' merals 24 and 25 are adapted tobe rotatabl y supported within the depressions l3 and I4, with the handles being of a thickness to be wholly arranged within the depressions with their outer faces flush with the outer faces of the housing members 6 and 7 respectively.

The latch handle 24 is provided with a tubular hub 26, cylindrical in shape and equidistantly spaced from the ends of the handle and provides an inwardly extending semi-circular flange 21. The outer end of the hub is closed by an end wall 28. The upper portion of the hub is slotted at 29 for the shiftable reception of an actuating handle 30, see particularly Figures 4, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 13. The handle 39 is provided with a cylindrical hub 3| at its lower end, provided with a rectangular recess 32.v The hub and its integral handle 30 is adapted to rock back and forth and is mounted preferably eccentric to the hub 26, through the medium of a shouldered screw 33, passing through a suitable opening-in the wall 28. The rocking motion of the handle 3|] controls the shifting movement of a locking bolt 34, shiftable through a passage 35, formed in the handle 24, opening at one end, as clearly shown in Figures 4, 6 and '7. The bolt 34 is pivotally connected to the handle 39 by a shouldered screw 36. The bolt is retained in either the extended or retracted position by a ball detent 31, urged into seating engagement within spaced notches 38 formed in the bolt. Movement of the handle by the operator to the left, causes the bolt to be projected beyond the end of the handle to pass through an opening 39, formed in the side wall of the depression l3, whereby the handle and associated parts are positively held against turning movement. The handle 24 is positively positioned in normal arrangement with the passage and opening 39 accurately aligned for thereception of the bolt, by a'stop lug 40, pressed inwardly from the side of the depression I3, The handles 24 and 25 are normally returned to horizontal position upon being released, by spring means, to be described.

The handle member 25 is provided centrally thereof with a solid hub 4|, having a diameter identical to that of the hub 26. The hub 4| is rotatably mounted within the opening 2| and.

has a bearing upon the flange 23. The inner end of the hub 4| is provided with a semi-cylindrical flange 42, identical to the flange 21 and adapted to have abutting relation with the flange 21 at.

the end wall of the handle 25 and eccentrically arranged to lie in axial alignment with the hub- 3| of the latch handle 3|]. An operating bar or tail piece 50, carried by the plug 46 freely engages in the slot 32 of the hub 3|, at assembly, whereby the movement of the barrel under the influence of a key in the opening 48, is imparted to the handle 30 and subsequently shifting the bolt 34 toward or from the opening 39. It is to be understood that in various cylinder lock constructions there is a limited lost motion between the a plug 46 and the bar or tail piece 59, which lost motion is adequate to permit the shifting of the handle 39 for a release of the bolt 34. The cylinder lock here employed in the combination is of well known construction and the internal structure thereof forms no part of the present invention. Posts 5| serve to secure the handles 24 and 25 together for simultaneous movement, one end of the posts being riveted through the end wall of the handle25, asat 52, while their opposite ends are axially drilled and tapped to receive fastening screws 53, passing through the end wall 28 of the handle 24. The posts further serve to support the housing member 45 against rotation with respect to the hub 4|, as clearly described in my co-pending application above identified. The rigid abutment of the fianges 2i and 42 under the clamping action of the posts 5|, provides an arcuate slot 54 between the hubs, the terminal ends of the slot being somewhat above the axial center line of the hubs.

The flat face 43 of the hub 4| is provided with spaced apart openings 55, internally threaded for the reception of the threaded end of a shouldered bearing screw 56, see Figures 4 and 5. The screw 56 rockably supports a latc og 51, having a rounded head 58 and a bevelled hooked forward end 59 for engagement with the keeper bar l2. The dog is shiftable in a vertical direction upon its bearing screw 56 and against the tension of a retractil'e spring 60, one end of which is attached to the dog, as at 6|, while the opposite end is attached to one of the spacer rods l6, thus urging the dog to a position to lie in the path of the keeper l2, the downward movement of the dog being limited by its abutment in the end of the slot 54. A further stop device is employed, as at 62. I I p In theme of, the invention so far described, the handle 30 havingbeen moved to the right to retract the bolt 34, the door'is' shifted to cause the keeper |2 to enter through the opening ll of the flange 8. As the forward end 59 of the dog engages the keeper bar, it will ride upwardly against the tension of the spring '69 to subsequently snapthereover to latched position. Since the handle so is in the uniatched position, the. dog may be unlatched from the keeper by rotating either handle 24 or. 25, since rotation of these handles likewise rotates their barrels or hubs and, since the dog abuts the end of the slot 54,-it will be moved in an arcuate path to raise the hooked end 59 from the keeper; However, after the latching has taken place and the operator shifts the handle 30 to the left, the bolt 34 is projected into the opening 39 and the several parts are held against rotation. With the bolt in locked positiori, a suitable key may be inserted into the plug key opening 48 and the plug rotated, which action causes the bar 50 to shift the handle 30 to the right, withdrawing the bolt 34, after which the.

lat-ch handle 25 may be rotated to lift the; dog. 51'

latched tothe keeper, regardless ottheposition fthebolt34. 'IT, W

It" becomes necessary'at times to reverse the mechanismwhere the sides" of the door-"a're reversed frominside'to outside, yetmovable in the same direction in a predetermined door opening. To accomplish this, the machani'sm' is disassembled and the latch dog filreplaced in the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 5. 1 The handle 25 carrying the dog and cylinder mechanism is then mounted in the opening formerly ocoupiedby the handle mechanism 24 and the handle mechanism 24 installed in the opening formerly occupied'by" the handle mechanism .25 and the lock then again assembled with the screws 53 engaging the posts Since the bolt-34 obviously must engage the side of the depression 14,

, an opening 63 is provided, see Figure 4. Thus the several parts are interchangeable from one side of the door to the other and their actuation is identical.

It has been found desirable in an inside door device to dispense with the key actuated cylinder lock and to employ a stamped or forked key de vice, such as has been illustrated in Figure 9. Since the cylinder mechanism has been removed from the opening 49 of the handle 25, the outer circumferential edge of the opening 49 is countersunk to receive a flange 64 for'fiush engagement with the end wall of the hub H. The flange carries a cylindrical cup 65, provided with an annular bead 66 to be snapped into engagement with a groove formed in the hub at the time of the changeover. Thus, the flange andits cup are retained against accidental displacement; yet may freely rotate under the influence of the key. Welded or otherwise attached to the cup 65 to project both rearwardly and forwardly of the inner wall of the cup, is an operating bar 61, the forward end of which lies wholly within the cup, while the rear endis elongated to engage in the slot 32 of thehub 3l,thus, rotation of the cup 1 preferably spotwelded. The free ends of the key are spaced apart, as at 7653 to provide a' fork for engagement over the end of, the bar 61. The use of this form of the invention is similar with that described in connection with the cylinder lock plug and simplifies the manufacture of the "inside door locks, sincethe same handle 25, having the identical configuration of hub and flange is employed and it only becomes necessary to cut away for the flange 54 and the bead 55, all other parts, including the dog 51 and handle mechanism 24 remaining the same. The cost of such a latch set is therefore somewhat reduced in cost, in view of the fact that the cylinder mechanism is eliminated.

It is believed that further detailed description of the machanism and its operation is unnecessary. The structure is simple and economical to manufacture, easily assembled or disassembled, is strong, durable and highly efficient for the purposes for which'it was designed.

It is to be understood, that the invention is not limited to the precise shape and arrangement of parts or to any particular materials, but that it includes within its purview, whatever changes fairly come within either the spirit or the terms of the appended claims.

Having described my' invention, whatI claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1; 'In'a' combined latch and lock device for engagement in'the leadingedge of a sliding closure door, a housing comprising spaced apart plates provided with cylindrical depressions axially aligned, latch handles rotatably positioned in the depress'ionsupon opposite sides of the housing; a manually operablesliding bolt carried by the handle uponthe inner side of the door to lock the handle again'st rotative movement with respect to the housing, key controlled means carried by the other handle upon the'outer side of the door, means connecting the'two handles to rotate in unison,the'ke'y controlled means serving to retract the bolt from' the outer side of the door, a latch dog pivotally mounted with respect to the handles and being independently shiftable to latching position when engaged by a keeper, the dog being shiftable to unlatching position from the keeper when either of the handles are rotated, the handlesand the dog being reversible tor operative mounting upon either side of the door.

2. In a combined latch and lock for mounting within the leading edge of a sliding closure door, a housing including a pair of spaced apart plates, the plates provided with cylindrical depressions in their outer faces that are axially aligned with each other, each depression provided with a relatively large concentric opening, inner and outer latch handles for rotative mounting Within the depressions with'their outer faces flush with the plates, hubs formed on the handles for rotative reception in the concentric openings, the hubs extending inwardly of the housing and connected with each other to rotate in unison, an end closure for the housing that is provided with an opening for the passage of a keeper carried by the door opening, a latch'dog pivotally supported upon the hub of one latch'handle'to be vertically shiftable 'to latched position when engaged by the keeper, a spring for urging the dog to normal latching position-the dog being bodily shiftable to unlatching' position when one of the handles is actuated, a boltcarried by one of the handles to slidably enga'ge in an opening of the housing,

manual means to "project and retract the bolt, key c'ontrolled'means carried by the other handle and connected'to the manual control means of the otherhandle whereby the bolt may be retracted through the medium'o'f the key from the opposite side of the door, the pivotalsupport of the dog being" such that'the dog may be reversed and pivotallymountedto its hub in an opposite direction to'permit the handles being reversed from one side of the door to the other.

3. The structure as recited in claim 2, wherein hubs as a clearance for the pivotal reception of the dog.

4. Ihe structure as recited in claim 2, wherein the key controlled means consists of a cylindrical bead formed on the cup for snapping engagement 7 into the groove whereby the cup may be rotated, a flat bar carried by the cup axially and having its outer end positioned in the cup for engagement 7 7 by :a forkedrk'ey and its inner endextended to enage the bolt actuating handle.

5. In a combined latch and lock mechanism adapted to bemounted in the leading edge of a sliding closure device, a housing for enclosing the mechanism, the housing being adapted to be recessed into the leading edge of the closure device and with the housing being concentrically reoessed upon opposite sides, inner and outer latch handles positioned in the housing recesses and rotatable -on a common axis, 'a sliding bolt carried by one of the .handles to be manually projected into an opening formed in the adjacent housing, key actuated means carried by the other handle for retracting the bolt, a latch dog positioned in the housing and that is actuable in one direction to release position by the latch handles, the latch dog adapted to have engagement with a keeper device fixed within an opening to be covered by the closure device, the latch dog being freely shiftable to latched engagement with the keeper device independent of the latch handles, the latch handles and latchdog being reversible for operative mounting within the housing at either side of the closure device.

6. A latch and lock mechanism for use with a slidable door that covers and uncovers a closure opening and with the opening provided with a fixed latch keeper at one side, a combined latch and lock adapted to be fixedly mounted in a leading edge of the door and comprising a pair of identical plates spaced apart by rods, a leading closure wall carried by the plates that is provided with an opening for the passage of the keeper, the plates provided with cylindrical recesses in their outer faces that are axially aligned with each other, the recesses each provided with a relatively large concentric opening having in- \vardly extending bearing hubs, a latch handle for the inner side of the door and a latch handle for the outer side of the door, the handles being rotatively supported within the recesses with their outer faces flush with the plates, the handles being provided with cylindrical hubs that are rotatively supported within the concentric openings, the hub of the inner handle being tubular and rotatively supporting therein a bolt handie, the bolt handle projecting outwardly through a slot formed in the hub, a locking bolt carried by the inner handle to be projected through an opening formed in the side of the adjacent recess and shiftably controlled by the bolt handle, the hub of the inner handle being provided with a concentric arcuate flange inwardly projecting, the outer handle having a solid hub provided with a flat inner face, the hub of the outer handle being provided "with an Ea'rcuate flange identical in size and length to the first named flange, internally threaded posts fixed to the hub of the outer handle and projecting inwardly into the hub of the inner handle, screw means carried by the inner handle for threaded engagement with the posts whereby the handles and their hubs are fixed with respect to each other to rotate in unison, the flanges being in abutting clamping relation, the flanges terminating at an identical elevation to jointly provide an arcuate slot, the flat face of the outer hub being provided with spaced apart screw holes at an identical elevation, a latch dog supported upon theflat face with one end of the dog being pivotally supported by a shouldered screw in one of the screw holes for independent vertical shifting movement in the arouate slot, the dog extending forwardly to lie in the path of the keeper, a spring for retaining the dog in normal latching position with the keeper, the dog limited in its downward swinging movement by its abutment against an end of the arcuate slot, stop means in one of the recesses to limit the pivotal movement of the handles in one direction, the hub of the outer handle being provided with a recess, a key controlled cylinder lock disposed in the last named recess the plug of which having a tubular extension that projects through an opening formed in the hub, and a bar that pro- J'ects inwardly from the plug engaging and to actuate the bolt handle, the dog being reversible from one screw hole to the other whereby the outer and inner latch handles and their associated mechanisms may be reversed from one side of the door to the other.

JAMES F. PRICE.

References Cited in the file of, this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 315,761 Gerwien Apr, 14, 1885 354,472 Hitt Dec. l l, 1836 414,332 Seely Nov. 5, 1889 720,349 Howard et al. Feb. 10, 1903 1,376,141 Evans Apr. 26, 1921 1356,1338 Voight e May 29, 1923 1,705,270 Segal Mar. 12, 1929 2,135,322 Brantingson Nov. 1, 1938 2,253,495 Cordrey Aug. 26, 1941 2,275,089 Pirtz Mar. 3, 1942 2,387,187 Smith Oct. 16, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 10,896 Great Britain May 21, 1896 

